The market for meat processing equipment is growing, driven by rising demand for processed foods as a result of the increasing global population and consumer preference for protein-rich processed food products.

The government of Canada announced last week that all mechanically tenderized beef (MTB) sold in the country now has to be clearly labeled and the new labels will have to include instructions for safe cooking.

A California meat processing company has had to recall more than 8.7 million pounds of beef, following an investigation by federal safety officers that revealed the meat came from "diseased and unsound" animals in violation of food safety practices.

As a result of the economy, consumers have scaled back the quality and quantity of meat purchased, while adverse health effects associated with red meat consumption have driven some consumers toward alternative protein sources.